Jaded by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

better. She put her concealer on and smiled. “Are you ready?”
    He was already wearing his. “After you, Judge.”
    She turned on her concealer and headed out into the predawn light. Her guards were missing. “Attention, Ex-Hess. We are targets.”
    She shifted the concealer and it extended in front of her, widening and lengthening her shadow. Ex-Hess followed suit.
    “Rotation, Judge.”
    They shifted until their concealers were in contact, and she felt him turning her until they were jumbled. Once they reset their positions, they began a quick march to the courtroom. The attack was coming, she could feel it, and it was pressing down on her.
    She brought in the jury early. If anyone doubted what was going on, she needed someone seeing it through her eyes.
    They made it through the first checkpoint without incident and up the steps toward the courthouse. They were crossing the courtyard when three beings rushed at them. Judge Dex was shoved back as Ex-Hess stepped forward. He let a pulse out that knocked the attackers back, and in Dex’s mind, she heard screaming. Hundreds of voices were shrieking in pain. It was the worst sort of confirmation.
    Judge Dex staggered into the courthouse with Ex-Hess right behind her. She stumbled into her chambers and sat motionless. “Did you feel that?”
    “Yes. I now know what is making you ill. I hope that this concludes today.”
    She rubbed her temples, though he couldn’t see her. “One way or another, this will.”
    As the light crept in through the high window, she nodded. “Right. Let’s get the show on the road.”
    He organized the courtroom for her, and the shocked prosecution stared as she emerged from chambers and took her seat, apparently they were not expecting her.
    “Court will resume.” Ex-Hess nodded and everyone took their seats.
    Judge Dex settled in. “Council, begin the defense.”
    The defense called the Guardian Trace to the stand. It went as she expected it to. They had received a distress call, Legion had answered it and the village had shattered.
    The second Guardian, Tumbler, also agreed that those were the events. Someone called them.
    Legion was still sitting with a blank expression on his features.
    Judge Dex nodded, “Bring the defendant to the stand and release his restrictor.”
    The prosecution looked nervous. “I object.”
    Dex snorted. “My courtroom, my rules. This is what happens when an imperium judge and jury is called in. I am impartial, but I do things my way. Release him. I will restrain him if necessary.”
    The prosecution and witnesses looked at each other nervously.
    Trace helped his team member onto the stand, and the defense council released the restraint.
    Legion shuddered violently, but he sat quietly.
    “Legion, do you know where you are?” She spoke calmly and clearly. Her mind was open and watching his.
    “I am in a courtroom.”
    “Do you remember the events that brought you here?”
    “The village. I remember being called to the village.”
    Now for the important question. “Legion, what is the nature of your talent?”
    He smiled slightly, his pale features drawn and exhausted, but his eyes were brightening. “I take the focus of the population and turn it into energy to help them in their time of distress.”
    “Do you know what happened the day you arrived in Norgin?”
    “It seemed fairly quiet, but they were all in the square. Every member of the population was watching me. I asked them who needed help, told them I was there to help, and suddenly, everything went light and I felt a push like nothing I had felt before. There was silence, and then, I heard the shuttle coming in and then screaming started. No one was killed, but a few people were injured by falling debris. I was on my knees and the mayor was demanding that I be put into custody, that I was dangerous and needed to be destroyed.”
    “He said destroyed?”
    “The mayor of Norgin is a woman, but yes, she said I was to be destroyed.”